Big Brother…

More like ‘Oh Brother’…

Caution – EXPLICT LANGAGE… (If you are offended by the ‘F’ word… don’t read on!)

I don’t normally give a toss about TV – with regards to what’s on and who watches what… I myself don’t watch a lot of TV, being so busy and all… when I do watch TV, I don’t generally take it all that serious… being that it’s not REAL!

They say Big Brother is REALITY TV… BULLSHIT!!! What a load of freakin’ hogwash! It’s all about ratings and money… The only thing ‘REAL’ about it is the people who are inside the house… and even then, they are aware that they are on TV – so are they ALL really being themselves?

The other night, I came home from a fantastic REAL weekend of fun and laughter with great friends, we had been camping for the Nee festival 2004. When I walked in the door, my groovy roommates were all gathered around the TV, set to channel 10, watching Big Brother. As I like to take an interest in what my roomies get up to, I asked them what was going on. They told me that the young man voted out of the Big Brother house (Merlin) caused a ruckus. So I listen to what happened…

Roommate #1: “Merlin was evicted this week.”
Roommate #2: “He protested on the way out by holding up a sign and taping his mouth shut and not saying a word.”
Roommate #3: “Everyone went nuts… especially Gretel. The audience booed him as well.”

Well… I have my own 5c to add to this… and I have a website to air my opinions so there!!!

First of all… If I met Merlin, I would shake the boys hand! I would tell him sincerely that what he did was effective and attention grabbing and that I would have done the same thing in a heartbeat!

Secondly – I’d slap that silly woman Gretel in the face and tell her that she represents only her own opinions of Merlins actions, not the rest of Australia.

Thirdly, I’d tell Merlin that he shouldn’t have apologised to Australia or anyone, because what he did wasn’t wrong or aggressive.

[Definition of aggressive]
1. Characterized by aggression: aggressive behavior.
2. Inclined to behave in an actively hostile fashion: an aggressive regime.

Fourthly – I’d tell Gretel to get fucked! Who the hell is she to tell him he was aggressive? A SILENT protest is far from aggressive. The way she spoke to him was degrading and really pissed me off… She made such a big deal about it being the wrong thing to do and being ineffective. It was very effective, because it has people thinking, talking and debating it and best of all it has kids asking QUESTIONS. I only hope the parents and teachers out there are smart enough to answer them. Gretel went on about voting being the most effective way to make a difference – BULLSHIT!!!! You can either vote for one group of liars and cheaters, or some other group of liars and cheaters who are full of shit and listen very little. Where is the section on the voting ballot that lets you put your name on it so the person you are voting for knows where the vote came from? Where’s the comments box that allows you to make suggestions or comments about what you really think and feel? I’d say that many people who vote – vote for a party based on an ‘eenie-meenie-minie-mo” basis or leave the ballot blank because they are not impressed by anything being offered by the electoral candidates. How effective is that Gretel???

The fact that Merlin is not an Australian citizen has fuck all to do with the issue! He’s human – protesting about human rights ABUSE!!!

As for offending the kids – pfffh!! Give them some credit! Kids are NOT stupid. They can’t be protected from REAL life because it unfolds everyday right in front of them. As for parents who say they don’t allow their children to watch violence and promiscuous stuff on TV, but let them play PS2 games and watch ridiculous (sexual reference) TV shows such as Big Brother – you are dickheads too! If you want your children to grow up with morals and values, to be active citizens who understand and participate in their world, to feel empowered, to feel like real agents of change, you will talk to them, be honest with them, present them with all the facts (varying perspectives) about national and global issues (even the controversial ones… no, especially the controversial ones!!!) so they can make decisions and formulate opinions for themselves. They don’t have to conform to what anyone thinks. They should be allowed to make up their own mind, without the forcing and judgement of others.

If you say that children are to young to understand what’s going on, or that the issues are to controversial and mature – then you should wake up and get with reality. Just do a bit of research, go to a school, meet some children, talk to them, question them – Many of them will understand what is going on in the world and will be able to express their feelings and opinions too. There may be people of the opinion that children shouldn’t be burdened with such big issues and should just be required to be children who play and have fun – To them I’d say this…

1. Children are the future. They are tomorrows leaders who must understand what’s going on or how are they going to lead?
2. If you’re so concerned about children living in a ‘perfect’ world – what are you doing to contribute to this ‘perfect’ world? What are you doing to make a difference so that children don’t have to worry and can go on being children who play and laugh all day?

What am I doing to make the world a better place?

I’m a teacher. I am passionate about what I do… I believe in the power and value of a good education. I’m teaching children about themselves and about the world. I’m not aggressive about anything – I don’t force my opinions upon any of my students. Those of you who think that this is not a valuable teaching approach – you will find that Education Queensland backs me up… Read the SOSE syllabus (and understand it FULLY) and you will see that SOSE is all about educating children to participate in the world – their world…

If I was in the Big Brother house, I’d make many T-shirts of protest before hand and wear one everyday – being on TV is a very effective way to protest – why? Coz so many people watch the fuckin’ thing!!!


Here are a few things to get you thinking… and talking… debating even…

“Almost everything that is great has been done by youth” ~ Disraeli

http://bigbrother.ten.com.au/news.asp?news_id=216
Notice the majority of entries support Merlins actions and raise valid points – including this one…

"Good on you Merlin on making a peaceful protest that so effectively pointed
out that our government imprisons refugees in our name.

As HREOC, the Australian human rights watchdog, recently revealed, well over
90% of detainees who apply for asylum turn out to be genuine refugees. Most
children in detention since 1999 have been from Iraq. 98% of them turned out
to be refugees. The rest were mainly from Afghanistan. 95% of them were
refugees.

These Afghans and Iraqis didn't suddenly become refugees when they were
freed from detention - they were refugees all along. We imprisoned them, and
we continue to do so - including 162 children at the moment - in Nauru,
Villawood, Port Augusta and Christmas Island.

Australia locks up the most vulnerable group of people on the planet. Thank
you Merlin, for reminding the new generation of voters that we older ones
did not elect John Howard to lock up little children."

- Alanna Sherry


The Children’s Bill of Rights…
http://www.newciv.org/ncn/cbor.html

Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission
http://www.hreoc.gov.au/

Send a Message of HOPE...
http://www.datamaster.net.au/linseypollak/sendmessagesofhope/

Nauru Wire
http://www.nauruwire.org/hopemessages.htm


Before I go, I have one last thing to say…

FREE THE REFUGEES!!!